Joint reenforcement for metal doors or the like



Sept. 24, 1.929. LIEBMAN 1,729,536

I JOINT REENFORCEMENT FOR METAL DQORS 0R THE LIKE Filed March 21. 192e 2 sheets-sheet 1 INyENToR LouLsLzebman BY 2/ ma/f ATTORNEY Sept. 24,

WITNESSES 1929. l L. LIEBMAN 1,729,586

JOINT REENFORCEMENT FOR METAL DOORS O THE LIKE Filed March 21. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet o INVENTOR IouLgL'L' ebmn/ ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS LIEBIVLAN, OF NE'VV YORK, N. Y.

Application filed March 21, 1328.

The present invention is concerned with the provision of a wrought metal reenforcing block for the joints of hollow metal doors, partitions, windows, and generally analogous articles.

lt is customary to use some type of metal reenforcing block in the joints of hollow metal doors, which blocks serve to reenforce the joints and also serve as anchorages for the solder which is used to lill the seams of the joint.

ln accordance with the prior practice, it has been customary to cast hollow metal blocks for use as reenforcing members. rllhe cost of these castings is considerable.

In accordance with the present invention, l produce a wrought metal block preferably including two similar stamped metal sections which cooperatively form the block. A block of this character may be produced for a small fraction of the cost of the cast blocks, and small pieces of scrap metal may be conveniently used up by making` them into reenforc ing blocks for the joints.

' Other objects of the invention are to provide a wrought metal reenforcement of the character noted above which will be of eX- treinely simple, practical construction, and which will be rugged, durable and efficient in use.

lVith the above noted and other objects in view, the invention consists in cert-ain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims. rlhe invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying` drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is fragmentary front elevational view of a door indicating in dotted lines two of my improved reenforcing members one reentorcing the mitre joint at the corner of the door, and the other reenforcing the butt joint at the juncture of the rail. and stile.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in section through the corner of the door with-one of my improved reenforcing members in place therein.

Serial No. 263 5&8.

F ig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 of-Fig. 2.

Fig. il is a plan view of one of the blanks used to form one section of the wrought reenforcing block.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing two similar wrought sections just before they are assemblea and applied to the door.

F ig. 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section through the butt joint bctween the door stile and rail disclosingthe details of the block which is used to reenforce this oint.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line -T of Fig. 6.

F 8 is a sectional view on the sta line 3-8 of Fig. 6.

F ig. 9 is a view generally similar to Fig. 2, but showing a block of the type which is used to reenforce a butt joint at the corner of the door. y

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a fragmentary view of a door including a stile 10 and top rail 11 which are connected by a mitre joint. The door panels are indicated at 12 and a central rail 13 is shown having a butt joint with the stile 10. The stile and the rails are of hollow metallic construction and the joints are reenforced by the wrought iron reenforcing blocks which form the subject matter of the present invention.

ln Fig. l l have shown a plan view of the blank from which one of the sections of a reenforcing block for the mitre joint is formed. This blank 14; is roughly square, having at one corner a small square section cut away to provide a right angular notch 15, which notch defines the ends of flanges 1G and 17 at adjacent sides of the blank. The flanges 16 and 17 are adapted to be bent in wardly along the dotted lines 1S until the ends which are formed by the notch 15 substantially abut. The flanges 1G and 17 are provided with screw holes 19, at least one of which is counter-sunk as indicated at 2O in F ig. 5.

At the corner opposite the notch 15, the blank 14 is provided with a second right anguggered Cil lar notch 21. Tongues 22 extend from the base of the notch 21 toward the ends thereof. The purpose of these tongues will more fully appear from the following description.

In Fig. 5 I have shown two of the sections which are formed by bending up the flanges 16 and 17 of the blank 14. Such sections are substantially identical except that one is slightly smaller than the other, so that the unflanged edges of the two sections will be in alignment with the flanged edges which are nested within each other.

fter the two sections of the block shown in Fig. 5 have been assembled as in Figs. 2 and 3 with the langes 1G and 17 of one section lying within and against the flanges 16 and 17 of the other section, screws 23 are passed through the counter sunk openings 19 and the two sections rigidly secured together to form a generally square, hollow, block closed on two sides and open on two sides. This block is assembled within the corner of the hollow door and vattached by the use of screws 24 passed through the outer edges of the upper rail and stile, and through the remaining openings 19. It will be understood that when this block is emplaced, the overlying flanges 16 and 17 lie against the inner face of the upper edge of the top rail, and against the inner face of the outer edge of the stile, with the open sides of the block extending into the top rail and stile respectively.

The maximum width and height of the block exceeds the maximum width and height of the stile and top rail respectively. It is for this reason that the cut-out 21 is formed to fit the inner corner of the mitre oint. Preferably, the lower face of the top rail and the inner face of the stile are cut away or notched out as at- 2'5 for the reception of the tongues 22 as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3. By virtue of this interlocking slot and tongue feature, the hollow and relatively fragile reenforcing blocks are securely locked against inward bending along their free and unflanged edges, and the door is consequently better reenforced against crushing strains.

After the sectional reenforcing block has been assembled, and mounted within the corner of the door, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the corner joint is subjected to the usual soldering operation. That is to say, itis dipped in a bath of acid and then in a bath of solder which serves to fill the seams of the joint and seal the heads of the screws, firmly soldering the block, hollow top rail and stile of the door together.

In Figs. 6 to 3 inclusive I have illustrated the type of wrought metal reenforcing block used at the butt joint of a stile and rail. rllhis reenforcing device is formed of two substantially identical stampings, each of which comprises an elongated generally rectangular body 30 having an end flange 31 and a side flange 32 bent up at right angles to the body.

rIhese two sections are assembled by emplacing the elongated flanges 32 one against the other, so that a substantially box-like structure is formed having one open side. Flanges 32 are attached by screws 33 corresponding to the screws 23, and the reenforcing block is attached to the stile and rail by screws 3st prior to the solder dipping of the joint to seal the seams of the joint.

In Fig. 9 I have shown the type of reenforcing block which may be used with a butt joint t the upper corner of a door. Each section of this wrought metal block comprises an elongated rectangular plate l0 having flanges all and 4-2 bent upwardly from adjacent sides thereof. The two block sections are assembled one within the other with the flanges t1 and 42 overlapping and the bodies 40 spaced apart. The overlapping flanges are secured by screws i3 corresponding Vto the screws 33 and 23, and the block is attached to the top rail and stile by the use of screws est. The elongated block shown in Figs. 9 and 10 substantially .fills the top of the stile and extends into the ends of the top rail, effectively reenforcing the butt joint between the stile and rail. lilith this form of the device, the operation is again completed by dipping the assembled door with its concealed reenforcing block in a bath of solder, the solder being of any suitable character in accordance with the nature of the metal used to form the door.

For convenience of description I have referred throughout t e specification to a door, and it is to be understood that the reenforcing blocks are adapted equally well for use in connection with metal partitioning of any kind, metal sash frames and generally analogous types of furniture or other articles.

Various changes and alterations might be made in the general form and arrangement of the vparts described without departing from the invention. I-Ience I do not wish to limit myself to the details set forth, but shall consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a wrought metal reenforcing block for the joints of hollow metal doors or the like, said block including a pair of assembled generally similar metal stampings, said block being hollow and including at least one open side and one side of double thickness.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a wrought metal reenforcing block for the joints of hollow metal doors or the like, said block including a pair of assembled generally similar metal stampings, each comprising' an approxin'iately rectangular plate having flanges turned over from two adjacent side edges, the sections being assembled with the 'flanges nested to provide a block having at least one open side.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a wrought metal reenforcing block for the joints of hollow metal doors or the like, said block including a pair of assembled generally similar metal stampings, each comprising an approximately rectangular plate having flanges turned over from two adjacent side edges, the sections being assembled with the lianges nested to provide a block having at least one open side, and screws connecting the block sections,said sections having aligned screw receiving openings therein adapted to receive screws attaching the assembled block to the door.

1l. In a metal door or the like, a hollow stile and hollow rail, a wrought metal reenforcing block within the joint formed by the stile and rail and coupling them together, said rail and stile being slotted at the joint and said block including tongues locking in the slots.

5. In a metal door or the like, a hollow stile and hollow rail, a wrought metal reenforcing block within the joint formed by the stile and rail and coupling them together, said block including a pair of similar plate members flanged on two sides and secured together with the flanges overlapping and the plates spaced apart.

6. In a metal door or the like, a hollow stile and hollow rail, a wrought metal reenforcing block within the joint formed by the stile and rail and coupling them together, said rail and stile being slotted at the joint and said block including tongues locking in the slots, said block including a pair of similar plate members flanged on two sides and secured together with the flanges overlapping and the plates spaced apart, said tongues being formed on the unflanged edges of the plates.

Signed at Long Island City, in the county of Queens and State of New York, this 16th day of March, A. D. 1928.

LOUIS LIEBMAN. 

